ZURICH, Sep 15 (Reuters) - FIFA vice-president Jack Warner is to face an internal disciplinary investigation into his alleged involvement in selling World Cup tickets, president Sepp Blatter said on Friday.

Blatter told a news conference at the world governing body's
Zurich headquarters on Friday that Warner's case would be heard
by the disciplinary committee. He said, though, it was premature
to call for the vice-president's resignation.

'Jack Warner flatly denies the charges or evidence against
him, and every person is entitled to the right to defend
themselves,' Blatter said.

Warner, a member of the FIFA executive since 1983 and
president of the Confederation of North, Central American and
Caribbean football associations, and his associates are accused
of personally profiting from the resale of tickets contrary to
FIFA's own ticketing rules.

Blatter said the disciplinary committee investigation would
examine only the alleged resale of 180 World Cup tickets
originally purchased by Warner.

Blatter said the case differed from that of former FIFA
executive committee member Ismail Bhamjee, who was ordered to
leave the World Cup immediately and subsequently resigned his
position after he admitted selling a dozen tickets at inflated
prices.

'This situation is completely different,' Blatter said on
Friday. 'Ismail Bhamjee admitted that he had committed more than
an error and signed a document saying he had done wrong.'

Although Warner was a powerful ally of Blatter's during his
initial election to the presidency in 1998 and his re-election
four years later, Blatter said this would have no effect on his
handling of the current allegations.

'I have no personal feelings (about this),' Blatter said.

'I have had a strong connection with Jack Warner from all
our years at FIFA but that does not mean as FIFA president that
I will not take action if a member has problems with applying
the principle of ethics and morals.

'But we can only take action in accordance with FIFA
regulations and that is what we are doing.'